I have
been off the field now for almost five months. That’s long enough to get over the
culture shock, to get a job, to get used to driving again, enjoy good food,
comfortable beds, and western toilets.
In essence, you become American again.
During that process something happens that kind of makes you
forget many of the wonderful stories of the year. It’s not so much the impact that’s forgotten, or the life
lessons you take away, but the details get fuzzy; you forget people’s names or
where you were when that happened.
The p
ast couple of days I’ve been looking back on many of my old blogs
and realized I had forgotten a lot from the field. Fortunately, just like a spark can start a blazing fire,
reading about one experience can ignite all the others and I began to recall
many more stories than the one I was reading.
As I remembered the people I met on the way and their unique
stories, I began to feel that familiar discontentment of being in an office, in
America. I want to get back on the
field again, to go see other cultures, meet new people and hear and share their
stories. I’m ready to go do more.
And then the earthquake in Haiti happened.
I thought, “this is it.” This is my chance to get back in the field, to serve. The World Race is trying to put
together an alumni trip to go to Haiti, and I told them immediately I want to
go. Right now we are waiting for
logistical information and I am so ready and willing to go help, serve, gather
stories, and take pictures. I’m
ready for God to se
nd me…but there’s the catch. God’s already sent me somewhere-Gainesville, Ga. He sent me here to serve the people
here, to find the stories here. He
has a specific plan that he has for me here, and just as easily as I forgot
stories of the year, I forgot the simple truth that His stories are everywhere.
Whether or not I go to Haiti is up to God, and while there
is such a need for servants there, there is the need for servants here
too. The traveler in me may be
screaming to get out of America, but the servant in me can be just as satisfied
here as anywhere in the world.
